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Home Safe Home

As any police officer will tell you, vacant homes are an inviting target for thieves. The good news is that most burglars are not particularly sophisticated or skilled – they’re simply looking for empty homes with easy access. Fight back by taking basic precautions before heading off on a summer holiday.

Start by thinking like a criminal. Take ten minutes and "case" your home. Look for opportunities for thieves, like low basement windows without bars, an unsecured doggy door or a spare key hidden under a doormat. Some other precautions include:

• Lights. Install motion sensor lights around the exterior of your home, and use a variable light timer to activate lights inside your home at different times of the day.
• Noise. Set a radio or TV on a timer to go on at different times of the day. If you have a dog, consider having someone drop by to care for it, rather than boarding it.
• Create a "lived in" look. Have friends or relatives visit every few days to pick up mail and flyers, move garbage cans, walk around your home, and generally make it clear that someone is around.

• Hide clues of absence. Stop your newspaper subscription, and don't leave a message on your answering machine indicating that you're away. Periodically call in and empty your voice mail. Don't leave your garage door open – it broadcasts your absence. Consider having a friend periodically park in your driveway. And if you'll be away for several weeks, have someone care for your lawn.

• Keys. Keep track of how many keys you’ve made and who has them. Never hide keys anywhere around your front door. There is no "secret" hiding place.

• Alarm system. Any alarm system, from a basic door alarm to one with remote monitoring – can be a good deterrent.

• Visual deterrents. Display "beware" signs indicating that you have a dog or an alarm. Often, the stickers are enough of a deterrent to make thieves look for an easier target.

• Protect your valuables. Ask your local police about Operation Identification, and have your valuables engraved. Remove anything of extreme value from your home and store it somewhere safe.